Kazuki had one goal today.
Just one.
"I want… a bath."
Not just any bath. A hot spring. Bubbles. Steam. Maybe a rice snack on the side. Something to unwind the trauma of accidentally electrocuting Aurelis in front of half the continent's most important people.
"Why are we heading uphill, again?" he asked as he climbed the twisting trail with his usual lack of grace. "This doesn't look like a spa trail."
"You said you wanted a legendary hot spring," Tala replied, unfurling a map. "Well, the Royal Springs of Inariko are technically legendary."
"See? That's the issue. Anything with the word 'legendary' is cursed."
Senzou flicked his tongue from Kazuki's shoulder. "You do seem cursed by fate, in the most statistically improbable ways."
"I'm just saying," Kazuki muttered, "the last time I took a nap, I woke up with a temple collapsing around me and gained two levels from snoring too loudly."
Smile jiggled happily in his arms.
Yukimaru the eagle soared above, scouting the pass.
All was quiet… too quiet.
Kazuki narrowed his eyes at the sign ahead:
Royal Springs Access Route – Caution: Entry Requires Permit and/or Escort
Currently Restricted Due to Artifact Recovery Mission
He stopped. "Wait. Artifact?"
Tala froze. "Oh… oh no."
Kazuki looked down at the folded parchment he was handed earlier by a polite palace messenger during breakfast. The one with gold trim.
He thought it was a spa coupon.
But in reality, it read:
"Summons for Expedition Assistance: Lost Relic of the Celestial Basin" To: Kazuki Amano, Rising Star of the Guild
His mouth dropped. "No."
"Yes," Tala groaned.
A sudden horn blared from the ridge above.
✦
Royal Expedition Camp – Inariko Pass
Dozens of elite knights in crimson armor stood in perfect formation around crystal monitors and enchanted wagons. At the center, a grand officer with silver-plated antlers on her helm turned toward Kazuki.
"Ah, you have arrived, Mr. Amano!"
Kazuki laughed nervously. "You… must be confusing me with someone—"
"I've seen the footage of your duel." She smiled with gleaming teeth. "A splendid victory. Your clumsy evasion was… revolutionary."
"That wasn't strategy! That was me tripping on—"
She handed him a gilded briefing scroll.
"Your help retrieving the Celestial Basin will be greatly appreciated. It lies deep within the mountain's Forbidden Veins."
"Veins?"
"A maze of enchanted lava tubes, seismic traps, and sentient mineral beasts."
Kazuki paled. "I just wanted a soak."
"Excellent," she said, mistaking his horror for enthusiasm. "We depart at once!"
✦
Inside the Forbidden Veins
Tunnels of glowing blue stone curled like veins of a titan's heart, pulsing with raw mana. Heat shimmered in the air. Ambient mana danced like fireflies.
Kazuki was sweating buckets.
Smile, still in his satchel, enjoyed the sauna-like conditions.
Tala murmured, "This place is older than any dungeon I've seen. Be careful not to touch the runes."
Naturally, Kazuki immediately tripped and slapped his palm against a glowing rune on the wall.
BZZZZT.
System Alert: Hidden Trial Activated!
[You have triggered: The Slumbering Ember Trial!] Objective: Survive for 10 Minutes against a Lavaborn Titan
Reward: ???
"WHY."
The floor cracked beneath them. Flames erupted.
From the depths, a twenty-foot golem made of magma and obsidian rose, molten eyes glaring.
Kazuki screamed. "I JUST WANTED A BATH."
✦
The Battle Begins
Aurelis would've drawn his sword, shouted something noble, and launched into the air with flames.
Kazuki, however, did something different.
He panicked.
And slipped on Smile, who had oozed out to help.
He flailed backward—
—hit a loose mana crystal—
—which bounced into the Lavaborn's mouth.
The creature paused.
Burped.
BOOOOM.
It exploded from the inside out in a blast of rainbow-colored fire.
Silence.
Then a ding.
[Trial Complete. Reward Unlocked.]
A small, floating vial appeared in front of Kazuki.
[Acquired: Lavaheart Spring Essence – Grants user temporary immunity to fire and increases recovery rate in high-heat areas.]
Kazuki blinked.
Tala picked up the vial. "This is… insanely valuable. Only ten in existence."
Senzou hissed in admiration. "You are… a divine accident."
✦
Back at Camp
The expedition team was speechless.
"You defeated the trial guardian in less than twenty seconds," said the officer.
"I did?"
"You fed it the exact unstable crystal we couldn't locate for weeks. It reacted perfectly."
"I… tripped."
"You must teach us your methods."
Tala shoved a rice ball into his mouth to stop him from correcting her.
Later that evening, the real Royal Springs were unlocked by the expedition team.
And Kazuki?
He finally got his bath.
✦
System Update
[Passive Skill Gained: Thermal Luck]
‣ Your odds of surviving fire-based disasters increase by 300%
‣ You are now 90% resistant to accidental volcanic eruption damage
‣ Buff: Hot springs grant minor XP regeneration